Evangelism

The Bible verses about sharing your faith fall into five groups, and knowing which group you need makes them far more useful: verses that give the call (Matthew 28:18-20, Acts 1:8), verses for courage (Romans 1:16, 2 Timothy 1:7), verses about how to speak (1 Peter 3:15, Colossians 4:6), verses about telling your own story (Mark 5:19, John 9:25), and verses that take the pressure off (1 Corinthians 3:6-7). Below are 16 of them, quoted from the World English Bible, each with a short note on what it actually asks of you.

The timing matters. On 20 October 2026 the evangelist J John told church leaders at the Church Resources Exhibition that churches spend “over 95 per cent” of their time and resources on worship and wellbeing and “less than 5 per cent on witness”, and that simply telling Christians to witness is not enough: “We’ve got to equip people” (Christian Today). Scripture is the first place to get equipped.

The call: why Christians share their faith at all

1. Matthew 28:18-20

“All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I commanded you. Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18–20)

The command sits between two promises: Jesus’ authority and his presence. You are not sent alone, and the goal is disciples who keep following, not one conversation you can tick off.

2. Acts 1:8

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you. You will be witnesses to me in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the uttermost parts of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)

A witness reports what they have seen; a witness does not have to win the case. The circles also start close to home. For most of us, “Jerusalem” is the people we already eat, work and live with.

3. 2 Corinthians 5:20

“We are therefore ambassadors on behalf of Christ, as though God were entreating by us: we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.” (2 Corinthians 5:20)

An ambassador carries someone else’s message and represents someone else’s character. Paul’s tone here is pleading, not point-scoring. If a faith conversation turns into an argument you are trying to win, this verse is a reset.

4. Romans 10:14

“How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in him whom they have not heard? How will they hear without a preacher?” (Romans 10:14)

A kind and honest life can raise the question, but at some point the good news has to be put into words. Romans 10 is a gentle reminder that silence is not neutral.

Courage: verses for when you are afraid to speak

5. Romans 1:16

“For I am not ashamed of the Good News of Christ, because it is the power of God for salvation for everyone who believes; for the Jew first, and also for the Greek.” (Romans 1:16)

Paul was writing to believers in the capital of an empire where a crucified Messiah sounded like foolishness (1 Corinthians 1:23). Embarrassment is an old pressure. His answer is not bravado but confidence in what the message itself does.

6. 2 Timothy 1:7-8

“For God didn’t give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control. Therefore don’t be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord.” (2 Timothy 1:7–8)

Paul wrote this to Timothy, a young leader he had to encourage more than once (1 Timothy 4:12). The verse does not pretend fear is absent. It names what God gives in its place: power to act, love for the person in front of you, and self-control over your words.

7. Acts 4:20

“For we can’t help telling the things which we saw and heard.” (Acts 4:20)

Peter and John said this to the council that had just ordered them to stop speaking about Jesus (Acts 4:18–20). Their courage grew out of experience. It is easier to talk about what you have seen God do than about ideas you have only read.

How to speak: gentleness, wisdom and a visible life

8. 1 Peter 3:15-16

“Always be ready to give an answer to everyone who asks you a reason concerning the hope that is in you, with humility and fear: having a good conscience.” (1 Peter 3:15–16)

The verse assumes someone asks. Three things follow: live in a way that prompts the question, prepare a short and honest answer ahead of time, and give it with humility rather than a lecture. Our article on evangelism through relationships shows what that looks like over months of ordinary friendship.

9. Colossians 4:5-6

“Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.” (Colossians 4:5–6)

“Each one” is the key phrase. A grieving colleague, a sceptical student and a curious neighbour need different answers. Grace sets the tone; salt keeps it honest and worth hearing.

10. Matthew 5:16

“Even so, let your light shine before men; that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)

The aim of visible good works is that people look past you to the Father. Practical service, like the kind described in love in action, often earns the right to talk about why you serve.

Your story: verses about personal testimony

11. Mark 5:19

“Go to your house, to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how he had mercy on you.” (Mark 5:19)

The man Jesus freed from the legion of demons begged to go with him in the boat. Jesus sent him home instead, and he went on to tell people across the Decapolis (Mark 5:18–20). Your first mission field may be the people who knew you before.

12. John 9:25

“I don’t know if he is a sinner. One thing I do know: that though I was blind, now I see.” (John 9:25)

The man born blind could not win a theology debate with the Pharisees, and he did not try. He said what happened to him. You do not need every answer before you can share the one you have.

13. John 1:46

Nathanael asked, “Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” (John 1:46)

Philip did not argue with Nathanael’s scepticism. He invited him to meet Jesus. Today that might mean reading a Gospel together, a meal with Christian friends, or an invitation into the kind of Christian community where faith is visible up close.

The message itself

14. 1 Corinthians 15:3-4

“For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.” (1 Corinthians 15:3–4)

Paul calls this “first of all”: the centre of the message. If you can explain these lines in your own words (Christ died for our sins, he was buried, he rose again), you can share the gospel. Everything else is commentary.

Taking the pressure off

15. Colossians 4:2-4

“Continue steadfastly in prayer, watching therein with thanksgiving; praying together for us also, that God may open to us a door for the word.” (Colossians 4:2–4)

Paul was in chains when he wrote this, and he still asked for an open door rather than a better technique. Prayer comes before conversation. If you want a place to start, see prayer that moves mountains.

16. 1 Corinthians 3:6-7

“I planted. Apollos watered. But God gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.” (1 Corinthians 3:6–7)

Results belong to God; faithfulness belongs to you. Some people will hear the gospel from you first, others will hear it from you for the tenth time. Both conversations matter.

How to actually use these verses

• Memorise three, not sixteen. Pick one for courage (2 Timothy 1:7), one for manner (Colossians 4:6) and one for the message (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). Read them on a card before work for a week.
• Write your two-minute story. Use Mark 5:19 as the outline: what your life was like, what the Lord did, and how he showed mercy. Keep it plain and honest, without church jargon.
• Pray for names, not crowds. Write down three people and pray Colossians 4:3 for each of them by name every day for a month.
• Ask before you tell. Questions like “What do you make of Jesus?” or “Has faith ever been part of your life?” open more doors than a prepared speech.
• Offer a next step. Follow Philip’s “Come and see” and suggest something concrete: reading the Gospel of Mark together, coming to church with you, or joining a meal with Christian friends.

Mistakes to avoid

Do not use verses as ammunition. Quoting a list of Bible verses at someone who has not asked is the opposite of Colossians 4:6. Do not wait until you have every answer either; the man in John 9 had one sentence, and it was enough. And do not measure faithfulness by quick results: in 1 Corinthians 3 some plant, some water, and God gives the growth.

Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible (public domain). Passage links open the full text on Bible Gateway.